A/N: Sorry for the long wait, I have a lot to do but now I got some time and like you requested. First off, though, I like to thank the reviews from Clara Spencer, book lover, and Whiteling. You guys I appreciate the support. In addition, I like to thank Barbiegirl 22 for favoriting. So…here we go, Chapter 2. Review, PM, etc.

Thanks!

Ch. 2: The Trade

Arthur walked in the tavern to see that it was full as usual. He could win this game; the cards were on his side as well as the Gods. How dare his daughter doubt him! Sure, he lost a couple of games but Gabriella always got the money back. She learned to use her mind like her mother but her looks was a bonus also. After all, who would refuse a beauty like her?

"Arthur," the gambler looked up at the bartender who pointed to the back, "the game's in the back." Arthur nodded and trotted to the back room. When he entered, there was a group of men sitting at the table; three of the men were traders then there was Brandon.

He looked up and smirked at Arthur's entrance, "Aw, Arthur, I see you have come."

"Hello Brandon," Arthur greeted as he took a seat with them.

"I believe we can start the game now," Brandon smiled as he placed his money on the table. Arthur then placed his money on the table; the other men did the same, until a large pouch landed on the table. They all looked up to see a hooded figure at the door causing Brandon to stand. "Who are you?"

"Just a traveler," he told them. He looked around at the table then eyed Arthur for a moment before looking back at Brandon. "Mind if I play," he inquired.

Brandon stared back at this hooded player, "I won't decline you, especially when you have so much to give." The figure took a seat in front of Arthur and Brandon, feeling their eyes watching closely. "You have a name, traveler?"

A small smirk appeared against the traveler's mouth, "My name is none of importance. Just a person who wants to play."

"Then let's play."

After three rounds, Arthur was down to the last bit of his money. Brandon had won in each round but it seemed the stranger had more to bet each time he lost. The other men who were playing left, leaving the three players alone in the room. Brandon slid several coins into the center of the able while the traveler slid his piece. Arthur wondered why the traveler didn't show fear or distaste unlike he who was at his last coin. "Go ahead and bet it in, Arthur…unless you got something better," Brandon asked.

Arthur's eyes locked onto Brandon's while the traveler continued to listen. Arthur glanced down at his last couple of coins before he stated loudly, "I'll bet my daughter."

Brandon smirked and shook his hand, "Pleasure doing business."

The traveler glanced up and though his hood covered his expression, he was in disgust. How anyone can do such a proposition, he thought quietly.

It seemed the game passed fast for Brandon immediately won the game without discretion. Arthur's face was in pure shock and distraught for he lost his money and his daughter in one game. "I will collect my prize now," Brandon stated, as he stood ready to walk away but suddenly the traveler grabbed hold of his arm. Brandon looked down as the traveler showed his hand.

Suddenly Brandon's eyes widened before dropping the pouch full of gold onto the table, storming out. Arthur looked up confuse until the traveler showed his hand to him. Arthur's jaw dropped before breaking out into a small smile.

The traveler had won.

"Which of the two do you want," the traveler questioned.

"Pardon me?"

"Which do you wish to keep," he repeated as he stood up from his chair. He walked over to the door and slowly closing it, isolating the two of them from the rest of the tavern. "Do you wish to keep your daughter," he turned, "or the money?" He threw the gold onto the table and stared at Arthur.

Arthur looked at him. Maybe he can give me some sympathy, he thought as he gently picked a coin up. "Can't I have both," he wondered.

"You sleaze," the traveler hissed loudly almost a growl before he removed his hood. Arthur gaped in shock from the sight.

Scars, many scars covered his face as if an animal attacked him. A scar traveled from his ear to his cheek, another over the eye, and a scar covered the lower side of the jaw line. Finally, a scar traveled from the cheek to the neck on the left side of his face. His piercing gray blue eyes watched Arthur as he paced back and forth like a wolf stalking his prey.

"What…what…are…you," Arthur stuttered as he fell back in his seat. The traveler slowly let his hand travel to his neck to reveal a small necklace on it was a wolf and a sword combined.

It was the crest of the Duke.

Arthur stood up, "You are not the Duke."

"No, I'm his son," he told him. "How can you just give your daughter away? I'm giving you a choice right now. The money or your own flesh and blood?"

"And if I refuse to give you anything," suddenly the traveler pushed him against the wall, gripping on his neck. "You…you're…choking me," Arthur sputtered.

The traveler gripped tighter as he moved his face closer to Arthur's. "I should break your neck but I won't," he dropped Arthur onto the ground and stared down at him. "So what's your choice?"

Gabriella looked out of her balcony watching the sky. She turned slightly away when she heard the door opened. He's back, she realized as she walked over to her bedroom door. She wanted to ask him but she stay put and looked down at the picture she drew.

The image was of the man she saw in her previous drawing.

For some reason, she couldn't get his face out her mind as if though she found something special about him. She wished she had Shadow to talk to now for he seemed to listen quietly, nodding to her. He had beautiful blue eyes, Gabriella remembered the most about the wolf. She overlooked the multiple scars that covered the face of the wolf. He was so kind and patient with her, unwilling to hurt her.

"Gabby," she heard Arthur call out.

"I'm up here, Papa," she called out to him.

She could hear the footsteps stomping up the staircase. When she heard, the footsteps approach her door, she turned to see her father was opening the door and in his hand was a pouch. She smiled and stood up, hugging in delight, "You won!"

"Yes I won," Arthur told her quietly. "But…"

Gabriella pulled away, "But?"

"It seems there was a slight dilemma and I lost against Brandon but a…a…monster won," Arthur told her. "Gabriella, you are going to live with him," he told her.

"What?!"

"It was either the gold or you and-"

"And you chose the gold over me!"

"Yes," Arthur yelled back. "You either go or I die and I rather have the gold then have you in my house. You've been nothing but a nuisance!"

There was an eerie silence between the two. Arthur quickly turned away and walked out of the room while Gabriella collapsed onto her bed slowly crying. All her life she was always second, it was never like this when her mother was alive and now, she was officially alone. Soon she was going to live a man that her father simply stated was a monster.

It was a death sentence for her.

Tristan quietly sat in his room gazing down at the paper on his desk. How do you tell a girl you barely know that you are now a guest when her father traded her in for gold, he thought. He gently touched his face and closed his eyes in anguish.

He has saw fear in Arthur's eyes. It was the same fear his father had when he discovered the curse that fell upon him; the scars were one thing but there was a darker part of his curse that displeased him. He worried about this also for he had to hide this from the girl that would enter his place.

But it gave him a slight hope, maybe Gabriella can see past his scars and curse, hopefully the same way she saw past his scars as a wolf.

It was all he hoped and that was all he had left.